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which had opposed the renewal of the war； headed by Fox； concurred in
thinking that the men now in power were incapable of either making a
good peace or waging a vigorous war。 Pitt had； in 1802； spoken for peace
against the party of Grenville； and had； in 1803； spoken for war against the
party of Fox。 But of the capacity of the cabinet； and especially of its chief；
for the conduct of great affairs； he thought as meanly as either Fox or
Grenville。 Questions were easily found on which all the enemies of the
government could act cordially together。 The unfortunate First Lord of the
Treasury； who had； during the earlier months of his administration； been
supported by Pitt on one side； and by Fox on the other； now had to answer
Pitt； and to be answered by Fox。 Two sharp debates； followed by close
divisions； made him weary of his post。 It was known； too； that the Upper
House was even more hostile to him than the Lower； that the Scotch
representative peers wavered； that there were signs of mutiny among the
bishops。 In the cabinet itself there was discord； and； worse than discord；
treachery。 It was necessary to give way： the ministry was dissolved； and
the task of forming a government was entrusted to Pitt。
Pitt was of opinion that there was now an opportunity； such as had
never before offered itself； and such as might never offer itself again； of
uniting in the public service； on honourable terms； all the eminent talents
of the kingdom。 The passions to which the French revolution had given
birth were extinct。 The madness of the innovator and the madness of the
alarmist had alike had their day。 Jacobinism and anti…Jacobinism had gone
out of fashion together。 The most liberal statesman did not think that
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
season propitious for schemes of parliamentary reform； and the most
conservative statesman could not pretend that there was any occasion for
gagging bills and suspensions of the Habeas Corpus Act。 The great
struggle for independence and national honour occupied all minds； and
those who were agreed as to the duty of maintaining that struggle with
vigour might well postpone to a more convenient time all disputes about
matters comparatively unimportant。 Strongly impressed by these
considerations； Pitt wished to form a ministry including all the first men in
the country。 The Treasury he reserved for himself； and to Fox he proposed
to assign a share of power little inferior to his own。
The plan was excellent； but the King would not hear of it。 Dull；
obstinate； unforgiving； and； at that time half mad； he positively refused to
admit Fox into his service。 Anybody else； even men who had gone as far
as Fox； or further than Fox； in what his Majesty considered as Jacobinism；
Sheridan； Grey； Erskine； should be graciously received； but Fox never。
During several hours Pitt laboured in vain to reason down this senseless
antipathy。 That he was perfectly sincere there can be no doubt： but it was
not enough to be sincere； he should have been resolute。 Had he declared
himself determined not to take office without Fox； the royal obstinacy
would have given way； as it gave way； a few months later； when opposed
to the immutable resolution of Lord Grenville。 In an evil hour Pitt yielded。
He flattered himself with the hope that； though he consented to forego the
aid of his illustrious rival； there would still remain ample materials for the
formation of an efficient ministry。 That hope was cruelly disappointed。
Fox entreated his friends to leave personal considerations out of the
question； and declared that he would support； with the utmost cordiality；
an efficient and patriotic ministry from which he should be himself
excluded。 Not only his friends； however； but Grenville； and Grenville's
adherents； answered； with one voice； that the question was not personal；
that a great constitutional principle was at stake； and that they would not
take office while a man eminently qualified to render service to the
commonwealth was placed under a ban merely because he was disliked at
Court。 All that was left to Pitt was to construct a government out of the
wreck of Addington's feeble administration。 The small circle of his
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personal retainers furnished him with a very few useful assistants；
particularly Dundas； who had been created Viscount Melville； Lord
Harrowby； and Canning。
Such was the inauspicious manner in which Pitt entered on his second
administration。 The whole history of that administration was of a piece
with the commencement。 Almost every month brought some new disaster
or disgrace。 To the war with France was soon added a war with Spain。 The
opponents of the minister were numerous； able； and active。 His most
useful coadjutors he soon lost。 Sickness deprived him of the help of Lord
Harrowby。 It was discovered that Lord Melville had been guilty of highly
culpable laxity in transactions relating to public money。 He was censured
by the House of Commons； driven from office； ejected from the Privy
Council； and impeached of high crimes and misdemeanours。 The blow fell
heavy on Pitt。 It gave him； he said in Parliament； a deep pang； and； as he
uttered the word pang； his lip quivered； his voice shook； he paused； and
his hearers thought that he was about to burst into tears。 Such tears shed
by Eldon would have moved nothing but laughter。 Shed by the warm…
hearted and open…hearted Fox； they would have moved sympathy； but
would have caused no surprise。 But a tear from Pitt would have been
something portentous。 He suppressed his emotion； however； and
proceeded with his usual majestic self… possession。
His difficulties compelled him to resort to various expedients。 At one
time Addington was persuaded to accept office with a peerage； but he
brought no additional strength to the government。 Though he went through
the form of reconciliation； it was impossible for him to forget the past。
While he remained in place he was jealous and punctilious； and he soon
retired again。 At another time Pitt renewed his efforts to overcome his
master's aversion to Fox； and it was rumoured that the King's obstinacy
was gradually giving way。 But； meanwhile； it was impossible for the
minister to conceal from the public eye the decay of his health； and the
constant anxiety which gnawed at his heart。 His sleep was broken。 His
food ceased to nourish him。 All who passed him in the Park； all who had
interviews with him in Downing Street； saw misery written in his face。
The peculiar look which he wore during the last months of his life was
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
often pathetically described by Wilberforce； who used to call it the
Austerlitz look。
Still the vigour of Pitt's intellectual faculties； and the intrepid
haughtiness of his spirit； remained unaltered。 He had staked everything on
a great venture。 He had succeeded in forming another mighty coalition
against the French ascendency。 The united forces of Austria； Russia； and
England might； he hoped； oppose an insurmountable barrier to the
ambition of the common enemy。 But the genius and energy of Napoleon
prevailed。 While the English troops were preparing to embark for
Germany； while the Russian troops were slowly coming up from Poland；
he； with rapidity unprecedented in modern war； moved a hundred
thousand men from the shores of the Ocean to the Black Forest； and
compelled a great Austrian army to surrender at Ul